New Strikeforce champ Coenen insists no foul play intended; draws Tate in 2011

SAN JOSE, Calif. – For new Strikeforce 135-pound champion Marloes Coenen (18-4 MMA, 2-1 SF), a second chance was all that she needed.

After losing to top female fighter Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos in a January title fight at 145 pounds, Coenen bounced back with an impressive third-round submission win over formerly undefeated title holder Sarah Kaufman (12-1 MMA, 4-1 SF) to claim the Strikeforce welterweight crown.

Of course, the win didn’t come without a tinge of controversy, as Kaufman suggested Coenen held on to the finishing submission hold longer than necessary. Following the win, “Rumina” insisted that simply was not the case.

“Normally when I’m training and I put an armbar on, I know exactly how far it can go because I’ve done it often,” Coenen told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I didn’t feel anything because she’s got really strong arms, so I didn’t feel like it was getting overstretched. Then I didn’t feel tapping, and the referee didn’t step in. After he separated us, it was like, ‘Oh, what’s happening?'”

After a pair of rather stagnant opening rounds, Kaufman actually looked to be an advantageous position as she delivered ground-and-pound shots in the third frame. Coenen admitted she was surprised at how the fight was unfolding to that point, but she also insists she was handling the punishment well from the bottom before working in the fight-ending submission.

“I thought it would become a brawl, and the strategy was to get into it,” Coenen said. “It didn’t happen. I don’t know why; maybe she didn’t want to exchange punches too much. In the third round, my trainer told me to give her a straight [punch] to the head, and she will shoot. I did what he said.

“I was really relaxed when [the finish] happened. She didn’t hit me hard. I was blocking most of it. I’m fine fighting off my back.”

Following the end of the fight, Kaufman displayed her displeasure with some initial verbal complaints followed by an icy stare directed toward the new champion. Coenen said she was aware of Kaufman’s protests, but as a 10-year MMA veteran, the Dutch champ insists she had no intention of causing any undue damage.

“I heard her complaining,” Coenen said. “It’s all about sportsmanship. I think it’s very important to have the Budo spirit, and it’s not in my character to go on after the referee stops you.”

Coenen says she and Kaufman met in the locker room following the fight, and all the tensions have been relieved. As such, the 29-year-old is now free to enjoy her first Strikeforce title win.

“It was 10 years ago when I won my first world title in Tokyo, Japan,” Coenen said. “It was a life-changing experience. Coming here to Strikeforce and winning this title, it means so much to me.”

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said top contender Miesha Tate, who earned her status with a recent four-woman tournament win, would get a shot at Coenen sometime in early 2011.

Until then, Coenen – who entered the contest a trendy pick among experts but an underdog in the betting public’s eyes – will simply savor the moment.

“I’m very honored that [Strikeforce] gave me a second shot,” Coenen said. “I feel good; I cannot believe it.”

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